Swing device



Nov. 25, 1969 K. R. ZIEBART 3,480,2'32

SWING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS K- R.ZIEBART SWING DEVICE Nov. 25, 196% 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1967FIG.3

TNVENTOR Kw??- mz/zaA/er ATTORNEYS K. R. ZIEBART SWING DEVICE F'IG.5

)III

R v M 7 9 mm m a 5 y V a m a ,2 2 W 9 7 6 6 7 Wvww a 32/ M M H K x \k aAW "null M m 4 a 8 I o F 0 N J M o0 a mo. 4 F m. 3

Nov. 25, E969 Filed Feb, 23, 1967 AT TOR NEYS United States Patent3,480,272 SWING DEVICE Kurt R. Ziebart, Rte. 2, Box 192 E, Williamsburg,Mich. 49690 Filed Feb. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 617,950 Int. 'Cl. A63g 1/12,9/16 U.S. Cl. 27233 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swing devicedisclosed herein comprises a pair of This invention relates to amusementdevices and particularly to a swing device.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel swing devicewhich can be operated by one or two persons; which is simple and safe;which can be utilized indoors or outdoors; and which can be mounted on acolumn or suspended from a ceiling or similar support.

Basically, the swing, device disclosed herein comprises a pair of swingmembers which are supported by ropes from the ends of a cross beamwhich, in turn, is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. Cablesextend from a crank fixed to the cross beam and over pulleys alongsidethe ropes and handles telescoped over the ropes and connected to thecables. By manipulating the handles, the cross beam and, in turn, theentire swing device is rotated about a vertical axis.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional elevational view of a swingdevice embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional view on an enlarged scale takenalong the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 showing theparts in a different operative position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view on an enlarged scale taken along theline 4--4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view through a modifiedform of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pulley assembly utilized in theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a part sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is a part sectional elevational view of a portion of the deviceshown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the swing device embodying the invention is shownas mounted on a vertical column 10 having a flat mounting plate 11 onthe upper end thereof. The swing device includes a cross beam 12 whichis preferably tubular and square in cross section as shown in FIG. 4.The cross beam 12 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the column10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a base plate 13 is mounted on themounting plate 11 by bolts 14. The base plate includes a verticallyextending post 15. A sleeve 16 is mounted centrally of the cross beam 12and is rotatably mounted on the post 15 by axially spaced bearings 17.Sleeve 16 includes an integral laterally outwardly extending lowerflange 18 over which the flange 19 of a retaining ring 20 extends.Retaining ring 20 is held in position by the bolts 14.

3,480,272 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 A nut 21 is threaded on the upper endof the post 15 (FIG. 1) to retain the cross beam 12 on the post 15.

A crank 22 has a first horizontal arm 23 extending radially and fixed tothe upperend of the post 15, a vertical cross portion 24, a secondhorizontal arm 25 that has a vertical end 26 diametrically opposed tothe cross portion 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first pair of pulley assemblies 27 ispivoted to cross beam 12 about vertical axes on opposite sides of thevertical axis of post 15 and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axisof cross beam 12. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the pulley assemblies 27comprises a pivot shaft 28, a pulley bracket 29 in which the pulley 30is rotatably mounted and a cable guide 31. Cable guide 31 comprises awire member that has a vertical closed loop 32 and a horizontal loop 33fixed on bracket 29. The vertical loop 32 guides and retains thehorizontal reach of a cable while the horizontal loop 33 guides andretains the vertical loop of the cable. As the horizontal reach rotates,as presently described, it engages the sides of the vertical loop 32 torotate the pulley 30. The shaft 28 extends through openings in a bracket34 mounted by bolts on the side of the cross beam 12. A nut 35 isthreaded on the end of each shaft 28to retain the pulley assembly on thebracket 34. As shown in FIG. 3, brackets 34 are on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis of the cross beam 12.

A second pair of pulley assemblies 36 is provided on the ends of thecross beam 12 on opposite sides of the axis of the vertical post 15,spaced radially outwardly from the pulley assemblies 27 and on theopposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam 12. As shownin FIG. 3, the pulley assemblies 27, 36 on the same end of the crossbeam 12 are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam12.

Pulley assemblies 36 are substantially identical to pulley assemblies27. Each pulley assembly 36 is mounted on a horizontal bracket 37 whichis fixed by bolts 38 on the cross beam 12 (FIG. 4).

A swing support 40 is mounted by a bolt 41 on each end of the cross beam12 and includes a vertical bar 41 and a horizontal bar 42. When viewedfrom above as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal bar 42 extends at an anglegenerally parallel a line connecting the pivotal axes of the adjacentpulley assemblies 27, 36. Ropes, preferably of nylon, as shown at 43,44, support a swing member such as a seat 45 on the swing support 40.

A pair of cables 46 is connected at one end to a bushing 47 rotatablymounted on cross portion 24 and is trained over the pulley assemblies 27and has its other end connected to handles 48 by an interconnectingchain 49. Handles 48 are telescoped, as presently described, over theropes 44. A second pair of cables 50 is connected at one end to abushing 51 on the end 26 of arm 25 of the crank 22, trained over thepulley assemblies 36 and has its other ends connected to handles 52telescoped 0n ropes 43 by interconnecting chains 53.

As shown in FIG. 2, handles 48, 52 are identical in construction andcomprise a vertical tube 54 that has plastic bushings 55 therein throughwhich a rope 44 or 43 extends. Each handle 48, 52 includes a crossportion 56 to facilitate gripping and downward pull of the handle.Portions 57 of the tube are bent inwardly to permit the fingers of theuser to readily grab around the tube. In use, the user reaches upwardlygrabs the cross bar 56 with the vertical tube 54 extending between apair of the fingers of the hand.

As shown in FIG. 7, a stop member 59 is telescoped on each of the ropes43, 44 and is maintained in position as desired by a retainer 60. Eachretainer 60 has a vertical loop 61 through which the rope extends and ahorizontal loop 62 which causes the rope to frictionally engage the loop61 and retain the stop member 59 in any desired position. In order toadjust the position of the stop member 59, the retainer 60 is graspedand the lower end of the rope is disengaged from the loop 62 permittingthe retainer 60 to be rotated so that it will be freely movable on therope to a new position of the stop member 59. After the new position isreached, the rope is then caused to engage the loop 62 to move the loop61 to a vertical position of frictional engagement of the rope.

In use, a pair of persons are seated on the swing members 45 andgraspthe handles 48, 52. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the person seatedon the right will pull the handle 52 downwardly while at the same timethe person seated on the left will pull the handle 48 downwardly.Pulling the handle 52 downwardly will cause the end 26 of the crank 22to be moved and thereby provide a force on the cross beam tending torotate the cross beam. At the same time, pulling the handle 48downwardly will also cause a force on the cross portion 24 producing areaction that will tend to rotate the cross beam. As the cross beam 12is rotated, each pair of handles 48, 52 will be moved in oppositedirections. Thus, from the position shown in FIG. 1, the one pair ofhandles 48, 52 will move downwardly while the other pair will moveupwardly. This reciprocating action will occur and, as the speed ofreciprocation of the handles by the user increases, the speed ofrotation of the cross beam 12 will increase. Throughout the movement,the gripping of the handles 48, 52 is facilitated because the handlesare guided by their respective ropes 44, 43. As the speed increases, theswing seats 45 will swing outwardly.

The pulley guides 31 facilitate the retention of the cables on thepulleys and thereby prevent undue wear and breakage thereof. Pulleyguides 31 also permit the pulleys to be mounted close to the crank 22since the pulley guides 31 insure the proper alignment of the pulleysand cables.

The swing device embodying the invention can also be utilized bysupporting it from a ceiling or the like indoors or outdoors as shown inFIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross beam 12 is rotated 180 degreesbringing the base plate 13 into position for engagement with a mountingplate 14 on a horizontal bar 70 that is mounted by brackets 71, 72 onthe beams 73 of a ceiling. In this position, the retaining flange 19acts as a safety device in the event of loosening of the nut 21 toprevent the device from falling.

It can be seen that in this position the pulleys extend verticallydownwardly and the cables 46, 50 are trained over the pulleys in thearea between the pulleys and the brackets oppositely as to the mode oftraining in FIG. 1. In order to accommodate the variation in height ofthe horizontal reaches, the brackets 34, 37 must be disconnected fromthe cross beam 12 and reconnected, by removing and inserting theirrespective bolts, to adjust the vertical positions of brackets 34, 37 sothat the horizontal reaches of the cables 46, 50 will be in alignmentrespectively with the cross portion 24 and end 26 of the crank 22.

In each of the forms of the invention, the provision of the handles sothat they are guided by their respective ropes insures that in the eventof a breakage of the cables 46, 50, the occupant will not lose hisbalance. In the event of such breakage of the cables 46, 50, theoccupant is prevented from falling by hanging on to the handles.

The vertical position of the handles 48, 52 in order to accommodateusers of various reaches can be readily achieved by changing the lengthof the interconnecting chains 49, 53.

In the event of the breakage of the cables 46, 50, the vertical extentof movement of the handles 48, 52 is limited by the stops 59.

I claim:

1. In a rotary swing device, the combination comprising:

a cross beam,

means for supporting said cross beam for rotation about a vertical axis,

a swing member,

means extending generally vertically and suspending said swing memberfrom said cross beam at a point spaced radially outwardly of saidvertical axis,

crank means fixed with respect to said cross beam and having a firstpoint spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis and a secondpoint spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis andsubstantially diametrically opposed with respect to said first point,

a first pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides ofsaid vertical axis,

a first pair of flexible cable means connected to said one point of saidcrank means and trained over said first pair of pulleys and extendingdownwardly along the means suspending said swing member,

a second pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides ofsaid vertical axis and at points spaced radially outwardly from saidfirst pair of pulleys,

a second pair of flexible cable means connected to said second point ofsaid crank means and trained over said second pair of pulleysrespectively and extending along said means suspending said swingmember,

handles vertically reciprocable along each means suspending a swingmember,

the other ends of said pairs of cable means being connected to saidhandles.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each pair of pulleys ismounted on horizontally opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of thecross beam.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said crank meanscomprises a first arm extending generally radially outwardly,

a second arm extending generally radially and connected to said firstarm by a cross portion which forms said first point,

said second point on said crank means comprising the end of said secondarm.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam for rotation comprises a base,

a post fixed to said base and adapted to extend generally vertically,

said crank means being mounted on said post,

a sleeve fixed on said cross beam,

and bearing means interposed between said post and said sleeve,

said sleeve having a horizontally extending flange,

said base having a retaining ring extending radially inwardly over saidflange whereby said base may be mounted on a vertical column with saidpost extending upwardly or may be mounted on a ceiling with said postextending downwardly.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation ofsaid first pair of pulleys are spaced vertically from the axes ofrotation of said second pair of pulleys.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam are mounted on a column, said pulleys beingvertically spaced above said cross beam.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam suspends said cross beam from an overheadsupport, said pulleys being spaced vertically below said cross beam.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsuspending said swing member comprises a pair of flexible membersconnected at their upper ends to the cross beam and at their lower endsto the swing member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said handle meanscomprises members vertically reciprocable on said flexible memberssuspending said swing member.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said handle meanscomprises a tubular member through which the respective flexible memberextends, said tubular member having bushings therein for guiding themovement of said handle.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said handle includes across portion on said tube to facilitate gripping on the handle.

12. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said pulleyincludes a cable guide means comprising a first loop movable with saidpulley through with said cable means extends and a second loop movablewith said pulley through which said cable extends, said first and secondloops guiding the horizontal and vertical reaches of the cable.

13. In a rotary swing device, the combination comprismg:

a cross beam,

means for supporting said cross beam for rotation about a vertical axis,

a pair of swing members,

a pair of flexible members individual to each swing member and extendinggenerally vertically and suspending each swing member from said crossbeam at a point spaced radially outwardly of said vertical axis,

crank means fixed with respect to said cross beam and comprising a firstarm extending radially outwardly, a second arm extending generallyradially and connected to said first arm by a cross portion which formsa first point spaced radially outwardly from said vertical axis, saidsecond arm having an end forming a second point spaced radiallyoutwardly from said vertical axis and substantially diametricallyopposed with respect to said first point,

a first pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides ofsaid vertical axis,

a first pair of flexible cable means connected to said one point of saidcrank means and trained over said first pair of pulleys and extendingdownwardly along the means suspending said swing member,

a second pair of pulleys pivoted to said cross beam on opposite sides ofsaid vertical axis and at points spaced radially outwardly from saidfirst pair of pulleys,

a second pair of flexible cable means connected to said second point ofsaid crank means and trained over said second pair of pulleysrespectively and extending along said means suspending said swingmember,

handles vertically reciprocable along each flexible member suspending aswing member,

the other ends of said pairs of cable means being connected to saidhandles.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein each pair of pulleysis mounted on horizontally opposed sides of the longitudinal axis .ofthe cross beam.

15. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam for rotation comprises a base,

a post fixed to said base and adapted to extend generally vertically,

said crank means being mounted on said post,

a sleeve fixed on said cross beam,

and bearing means interposed between said post and said sleeve,

, said sleeve having a horizontally extending flange,

, said base having a retaining ring extending radially inwardly oversaid flange whereby said base may be mounted on a vertical column withsaid post extending upwardly or may be mounted on a ceiling with saidpost extending downwardl'r.

16. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the axes of rotationof said pair of pulleys are spaced vertically from the axes of rotationof said second pair of pulleys.

17. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam are mounted on a column, said pulleys beingvertically spaced above said cross beam.

18. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means forsupporting said cross beam suspends said cross beam from an overheadsupport, said pulleys being spaced vertically below said cross beam.

, 19. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said .handle meanscomprises a tubular member through which the respective flexible memberextends, said tubular member having bushings therein for guiding themovement of said handle.

20. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said handle includes across portion on said tube to facilitate gripping on the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,659 12/1877 Millward 27233594,713 11/1897 Templin 273-33 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary ExaminerTHEATRICE BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 272-41, 91

